Paraguay eliminates Brazil in Copa America quarterfinals
Paraguay defeated Brazil 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw on Saturday to advance to the semifinals of the Copa America, handing the five-time world champions yet another disappointment a year after the humiliating World Cup elimination at home.
Midfielder Everton Ribeiro and striker Douglas Costa each missed penalties for Brazil in Concepcion, Chile, and Derlis Gonzalez converted the winning spot-kick for Paraguay, setting up a match against Argentina on Tuesday.
While Paraguay will try to reach the final for the second straight time, Brazil will go home still yet to achieve a success that would help bury the memory of the humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany at its home World Cup last year.
Brazil opened the scoring with a goal by veteran striker Robinho in the 15th and maintained the lead until the 72nd minute when Gonzalez converted a penalty awarded for handball by defender Thiago Silva.
Giovani Dos Santos and Javier Hernandez scored 2 minutes apart to quickly erase Mexico’s two-goal deficit in a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica in a friendly in preparation for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Octavio Rivero scored on a penalty kick in the 31st minute, and the Vancouver Whitecaps snapped the New England Revolution’s 17-game home unbeaten streak with a 2-1 victory. ...